Leinster still nursing Champions Cup wounds despite reaching URC final fourLeo Cullen’s side the last province standing as Munster and Connacht bow outMon Jun 01 2026 - 06:00
‘They only know how to swing haymakers all day long’: Former Leinster players give their verdict on province’s seasonFormer players wonder if the coaching ticket is giving team the best chance of landing Holy Grail Sat May 30 2026 - 06:00
Glasgow’s pack overpowers Connacht to knock them out of URCScottish side will play the winners of Bulls-Munster in the semi-finalFri May 29 2026 - 22:14
James Lowe to leave Leinster at the end of the seasonWinger to leave Leinster after nine seasons with the provinceFri May 29 2026 - 17:29
Ulster have made progress, even if they fell just short of their targetsRichie Murphy’s team’s season is over, but the metrics were much improvedFri May 29 2026 - 16:48
Motivation will be Leinster’s biggest obstacle in URC quarter-final against the LionsLeo Cullen has made eight changes to his starting 15 in bid to bounce back from Champions Cup final defeatFri May 29 2026 - 14:59
‘I’m my own player’: Evan O’Connell unburdened by Munster bloodlineThe 22-year-old lock is hoping to follow up on try-scoring return in URC quarter-final against the BullsThu May 28 2026 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: A deflating and damaging weekend for Leinster, Ulster and Irish rugbyIrish provinces have never seemed farther away from a Champions Cup winTue May 26 2026 - 05:00
Jack Crowley is a doubt for Ireland’s Nations Championship games with ‘obscure’ leg injuryCaptain Tadhg Beirne may be fit for URC semi-finals should Munster progressMon May 25 2026 - 17:00
How Leinster respond to another Champions Cup final blow is now the defining questionClare man Noel McNamara helps Bordeaux Bègles dismantle Leinster as familiar questions return after another final defeatMon May 25 2026 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Leinster beaten decisively by Bordeaux on bruising weekend for Irish rugbySecond-half resolve offered little consolation as a ruthless Bordeaux side dismantled Leinster’s Champions Cup dream in BilbaoSun May 24 2026 - 17:20
‘We’ve got a lot of strength to keep coming back’: Leinster vow to go again after Bordeaux defeatLeinster keep the faith despite fifth final defeat in eight seasonsSat May 23 2026 - 20:16
Leinster blitzed by Bordeaux Bègles as they suffer deflating Champions Cup final defeat The gulf between the two sides will be concerning for Irish province as Bordeaux Bègles defended their titleSat May 23 2026 - 17:51
Leinster need to find Champions Cup performance for the ages to dethrone Bordeaux BèglesIrish province have happy memories of San Mamés Stadium, but they need to find a performance for the ages against defending European championsSat May 23 2026 - 06:00
Weakened Ulster burn out against ruthless Montpellier in Challenge Cup finalRichie Murphy’s team no match for awesome French side as trophy wait extends into a 21st seasonFri May 22 2026 - 22:27
Scar tissue or ravenous hunger? Leinster prepare for Champions Cup final with a lot of motivationFive players in Leinster’s matchday squad have featured in all four of their losing European finalsFri May 22 2026 - 16:52
Ian Madigan: ‘I’m not emotionally detached. Leinster is my boyhood club. I want them to win’ This is a busy weekend for the player turned pundit, with his former teams in both European finalsFri May 22 2026 - 16:38
Challenge Cup final preview: Ulster face daunting task against Montpellier in Bilbao Montpellier v Ulster could see temperatures of 27 degrees at kick-off on Friday nightThu May 21 2026 - 20:01
Gerry Thornley: Arsenal’s Premier League win has made me glad to be a GoonerHow is it that a bunch of men whom we will most likely never meet can provoke such unbridled joy?Wed May 20 2026 - 19:06
From soccer town to rugby country, the rise of Bordeaux Bègles is no ordinary success storyTwo clubs’ willingness to put egos aside and agree to a merger led to the Champions Cup behemoth of todayWed May 20 2026 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Leinster’s Champions Cup final selections will be judged against one metricOpinions around the use of key players ahead of a season-defining clash have evolved significantlyTue May 19 2026 - 06:00
URC final day playoff permutations and Champions Cup qualification explainer All four Irish provinces cannot make the URC playoffs but all four could yet qualify for Champions Cup next season Sat May 16 2026 - 14:17
Gerry Thornley: Repeating top-eight URC feat would be an even bigger outcome for Irish gameThree of last season’s top eight will not reach the playoffs - all of which makes for a very fluid and competitive leagueTue May 12 2026 - 06:00
Connacht’s win over Munster brings province within single point of URC playoffs After victory over Munster, a tricky fixture awaits next Friday away to Edinburgh Mon May 11 2026 - 06:00
Winning farewell from Connacht stalwart Jack Carty marks URC victory over Munster Connacht’s all-time leading scorer with 1,260 points has seen considerable change since his home debut against Leinster in January 2013 Mon May 11 2026 - 06:00
Bonus-point win over Munster keeps Connacht in top-eight huntStrong opening half for Connacht leaves Munster with too much to do after the breakSat May 09 2026 - 22:09
Stakes are high as Connacht host Munster with Champions Cup spots in sightProvince have turned Dexcom Stadium into something of a fortress in recent weeksSat May 09 2026 - 06:00
‘We’re here to really compete at the top level’: Harry West living his dream with Connacht Ballina man setting his sights on silverware as he lines out with his friends and heroesSat May 09 2026 - 06:00
Clayton McMillan staying on as Munster head coach is in the interest of both partiesAt a time of instability, changing coaches is not ideal for MunsterFri May 08 2026 - 20:05
Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster pays tribute to departing playersPlayers will take part in a ceremony at the Dexcom Stadium following Munster gameFri May 08 2026 - 20:03
James Lowe sits out URC clash against Lions, leaving his Champions Cup final hopes in doubtLeo Cullen retains just three of the Leinster XV that beat Toulon for ‘proper bloody test’ against South African Shield winnersFri May 08 2026 - 15:51
Connacht make nine changes for interpro showdown with MunsterJames Ryan to lead a much-changed Leinster side for home game against the LionsFri May 08 2026 - 12:55
Gerry Thornley: Leinster and Ulster prepare for European finals from very different perspectivesHistory and expectation conspire to ensure provinces head to Bilbao in sharply contrasting fashionTue May 05 2026 - 06:00
Denis Buckley announces Connacht departure after 17 years35-year-old loosehead prop is ‘still exploring potential opportunities’ for next seasonMon May 04 2026 - 18:28
Joe McCarthy says memories of past defeats help motivate Leinster in Champions Cup questVictory over Toulon underlined team’s capacity to dig deepMon May 04 2026 - 06:00
Irish rugby fans prepare to descend on Bilbao as Leinster and Ulster chase gloryLeinster will face Bordeaux-Bègles in Champions Cup final after Ulster duel with Montpellier for the Challenge Cup Mon May 04 2026 - 06:00
Leo Cullen praises players and vents frustration at perceived anti-Leinster agendaHead coach also credits Toulon for staying in the game to the finish at the Aviva StadiumSat May 02 2026 - 19:33
Champions Cup: Leinster book ticket to Bilbao after holding off Toulon’s daring late comebackRelief the main emotion as Leo Cullen’s side exorcise a few demons to make a record-extending ninth finalSat May 02 2026 - 18:24
Leinster have opportunity to purge Champions Cup demons against ToulonLosing successive home semi-finals seems unthinkable, so the pressure is on the Irish provinceSat May 02 2026 - 06:00
Harry Byrne: ‘All I wanted to do was come back and compete, have a fair crack’The 27-year-old discusses his bond with his brother Ross, his loan spell in Bristol and his determination to earn the opportunity coming his way on Saturday, when he is to start for Leinster against Toulon Sat May 02 2026 - 06:00
Daniel Brennan has made a circuitous route to the top level of European rugbyThe son of Trevor, the Irish-born prop was named on the bench against LeinsterFri May 01 2026 - 20:22
Munster confirm Roger Randle will not join province as attack coachRandle’s appointment had provoked disquiet among Munster supporters and activists due to an allegation of rape against Randle in 1997Thu Apr 30 2026 - 21:46
Gerry Thornley: A powerful new force has emerged in Irish club rugbyHaving ended seven years in Division 1B and flirted with relegation, they claimed their first AIL crown since 2012Tue Apr 28 2026 - 06:00
All-Ireland League: UCD secure place in Division 1A with win over old rivals TrinityUCD’s powerful young pack, littered with Irish Under-20s, laid the foundationsSun Apr 26 2026 - 14:27
UCC v Shannon promotion playoff abandoned due to medical emergencyUCC captain Sam O’Sullivan underwent CPR on the pitch before being taken to hospital for treatmentSun Apr 26 2026 - 11:45
Munster likely to remain the IRFU’s problem child no matter how they behave on the pitch Even if they finish the season strongly and reach the Champions Cup, a reboot is needed after years of mismanagement at the provinceSat Apr 25 2026 - 06:00
AIL Division 1A final preview: St Mary’s ready to give everything to upset Clontarf’s back-to-back pushWin for Clontarf would make them the first side in 20 years to retain the titleFri Apr 24 2026 - 20:30
UCD and rivals Trinity prepare to do battle for AIL top-flight statusThousands expected at UCD Bowl to see ‘colours match’ promotion/relegation deciderFri Apr 24 2026 - 14:48
Clontarf’s Daniel Hawkshaw looks for redemption in AIL final against St Mary’sUnused in 2022 final and released by Connacht last year, centre is now regular starter for ’TarfFri Apr 24 2026 - 06:00
Love of rugby, not the paycheque, is all the motivation Greg Jones needs ahead of AIL finalFormer underage international hasn’t looked back since joining St Mary’s at the end of seven-year Ulster stintThu Apr 23 2026 - 06:00
